Motor-starting switch



K. KNUDSEN.

MOTOR STARTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-11,1918.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

K. KNUDSEN.

MOTOR STARTING SWITCL.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.1|, I918.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mm 1 M gar A TTOR/VE Y8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

K NUD KNUDSEN, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUMBULLELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MOTOR-STARTING SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed November 11, 1918. Serial No. 262,036.

subject of the King of Denmark, have signified my intention of becominga citizen of the United States and taken out first papers and a pliedfor second, residing at Plainville, onnecticut, have invented a new anduseful Motor-Starting Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to motor starting switches of the typewhereinthe switch is first operated to cut the motor in on the non-fusedside of the line and then as the motor picks up speed is furtheroperated to cut the motor in on the fused side of the line.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple and effectivemechanism for eifecting this two-part movement" of the switch and forinsuring a proper pause between the two movements.

Briefly stated, the invention resides in this mechanism for controllingthe movement of the switch, the same consisting generally of anarrangement of stop shoulders and a stop pin cooperating therewithtogether with certain guides or guide passages for the stop pin, theconstruction being such that to close the switch, the switch operatinghandle must first be carried forward into a non-fused position and thenbe backed slightly before it can be advanced to the fused or runningposition.

The other features of the invention will appear as the specificationproceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the invention asembodied in a practical and at present preferred form but at the sametime would have it understood that the invention is susceptible ofvarious modifications without departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

In said drawings Figure 1, is a front or face view of the switch in theclosed circuit position, certain parts being broken away and shown insection.

Fig. 2, is a side view with the parts in the same position.

Fig. 3, is a face view of the bearing member carrying the stopshoulders.

Fig. 1, is a similar View of the handle member carrying the stop pin forcooperation with the stop shoulders.

Fig. 5, is a broken side elevation of the handle member.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the plane of the line 66 of Fig. 1.

The switch illustrated in the present disclosure is of the inclosedtype, wherein all the current carrying parts are housed within asuitable box or casing 7.

The movable element of the switch consists of the three parallel switchblades 8 pivoted on the hinge posts 9 and adapted in the closingmovement thereof to engage first with the starting contacts 10 and inthe continued movement thereof with the running contacts 11. Thesecontacts may be in the form of spring jaws or clips as illustrated andto secure the sequential action described, the starting contacts aremade higher or longer than the running contacts and the base portions ofthe starting contacts are arched or spread apart as indicated at 12 sothat in the final running position of the movable switch element, theswitch blades will lie between the spread apart base portions on thestarting contacts and thus be entirely out of engagement with suchstarting contacts. Suitable fuses are connected with the runningcontacts and all of the current carrying parts thus far described aremounted on a suitable insulating base 14. The starting contacts areconnected directly with the line terminals by the leads 18.

The movable switch element in the present disclosure is actuated by anoperating member in the form of a switch handle 15 having a hub portion16 journaled in the side wall of the box, from which there eX- 'tends acrank arm 17, connected with the movable switch element, in the caseshown by a' quick break connection consisting of the insulating links 18pivoted directly to the switch blades at 19 and having slotted portions20 engaged over the laterally extending portion of the crank arm, saidlinks thus providing a lost motion connection and the springs 21connected between the crank arm and the cross bar 22 of the switchblades serving as a means for snapping the switch blades out ofengagement with the contact clips in the opening movement of the switch.

The switch is biased to the open position by means of a spring 23connected with the operating arm 17 and anchored to a stationary supportsuch as the wall of the casing.

The closing movement of the switch is controlled by cooperating andrelatively movable stop devices carried in the present instance by theswitch operating handle and the adjacent relatively stationary wall ofthe box, said devices consisting of a stop pin carried by one of saidparts and cooperating stop shoulders and guides for the pin carried bythe other of said parts. As here shown the stop pin designated 24-. iscarried by the handle and the stop shoulders and guides are mounted onthe box, said cooperating stop devices being carried by the disk-likeelements 25 and 26 on the handle and box respectively.

The stop pin 24 is shown seated in a, radially disposed slot or recess27 provided in the handle element 25 and forced yieldingly toward theelement 26 by means of a spring 28.

The relatively stationary element 26 is shown. formed with a guidegroove 29 for the stop pin having a drop or recessed portion 30 at theforward end thereof providing a pocket to receive the stop pin andarrest the forward movement of the handle.

Extending from a point at one side of the stop shoulder thus provided,there is a secoud forwardly extending guide groove 31 terminating at itsforward end in a stop shoulder 32 disposed in advance of the first stopshoulder. Connecting these two passages is a lateral passage extendingon an incline rearwardly from the first stop shoulder into the rearwardportion of the second guide groove, the whole thus constituting acompound groove of zigzag outline. The second guide groove communicatesat its rearward end by means of the rearwardly extending guide groove 34with the rearward portion of the first guide groove at a point in rearof the first stop shoulder. The stop pin and the first stop shoulder areso related as to arrest the movement of the switch blades when saidblades are engaged with the starting contacts and the second stopshoulder is so positioned as to beengaged by the stop pin only when theswitch blades have engaged with the running contacts. The lateral guidepassage 33 is so disposed that upon a slight reversal of movement of theoperating handle the stop pin will be caused to travel rearwardly on angagement with the starting contacts.

incline into the second guide passage, this rearward movement beingcomparatively slightso as not to disengage the switch blades from thestarting contacts. the lost motion connection described preferably beingsuch as to enable this slight retractive movement of the operatingmember without effecting the engagement of the switch blades with thestarting contacts.

The operation of the parts thus far described is substantially astollowsz lvhen the switch is to be closed, the handle is thrust forwarduntil the stop pin, traveling in the first guide passage, drops into thepocket at the forward end of such passage bringing up against the firststop shoulder. The closing movement of the switch is thus arrested withthe switch blades then in en- The switch handle is then backed of?slightly until the locking pin passes through the inclined connectingpassage into the second guide groove whereupon the switch handle may bethrust forward the balance of its stroke or until the stop pin brings upagainst the second stop shoulder. The switch blades will then be inengagement with the running contacts and out of engagement with thestarting contacts. The lost motion connection as before stated. ispreferably suthcient to enable the handle to be backed" oft". asdescribed, in the intermediate portion of its forward stroke withoutactually imparting any retractive movement to the switch blades. Thisenables the switch blades to remain firmly in engagement with thestarting contact clips, without movement, during manipulation of theswitch handle in this intermediate portion of its stroke.

The switch is held closed in the present instance by a latch 35 adaptedto be engaged with an outstanding lug 36 on the handle, said latch beingcontrolled by a nonvoltage or low voltage release magnet 37.

As the result of this construction when the voltage drops below apredetermined -poiut, the latch will be tripped and the switch will besnapped open, the quick break connection described insuring a quickbreak at the switch contacts and preventing dangerous arcing thereat. Inthis opening movement or the switch it will be understood that the stoppin travels rearwardlv in the second guide passage provided therefor andthrough the guide at the rear end of this passage back into the rearwardportion of the first guide groove into position to again cooperate withthe first guide shoulder upon the next closing movement of the switch.The action of the stop pin in the closing and the opening movement ofthe switch is indicated in Fig. 3 by the fullline and the dotted linearrows. respectively.

There is also shown in the switch disclosed, a back stop for limitingthe opening movement of the switch and for positively holding the switchin such open condition. This back stop is in the form of cooperatingwedges ori'nclines 38 and 39 provided on the opposed disk elements 25and 26 on the handle and box arranged to engage as the handle swingsopen and to hold the handle frictionally in such circuit-open position.a

The switch controlling mechanism disclosed possesses the specialadvantage that all the parts thereof are entirely inclosed andprotected. The structure further is relatively simple, strong andpositive in operation.

I claim 1. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable switchelement and an operating member therefor, of a stop pin carried by saidoperating member and stop means cooperating with said pin comprising atrack for the pin terminating in a stop shoulder for arresting theforward movement of the operating member, a second track disposed atoneside of the first track and terminating in a stop shoulder for the pindisposed in advance for the first stop shoulder to limit the extremeforward movement of the operating member and a passage for the stop pinextending rearwardly from the first stop shoulder into the second trackto carry said pin on reverse movement of the operating handle into thesecond track and said second track communicating at the rear thereofwith the first track, whereby to carry the pin upon full reversemovement of the operating member Jack into the first track in rear ofthe first stop shoulder.

2..In a switch of the character described, a stationary disk-like trackplate having a grooved guiding means with two stop shouldersintermediate the ends of the grooved guiding means, said stop shouldersfacing in opposite directions and a relatively oscillable disk-likemember pivoted adjacent thereto and having a recess elongated radi allyand a spring pressed stop pin located in said recess and having one endseated in said grooved guidingmeans, said end being movable radially andaxially to control the movement of said member.-

3. In an electric switch, the combination with -a movable switch elementand an operating member therefor, of means for controlling the switchmovement comprising a relatively stationary support, relatively movablestop devices carried by said support and the operating member, one ofsaid stop devices consisting of a stop pin, and the cooperating stopdevice including a guide groove for the stop dpin terminating in apocket at the forwar end thereof, a

passage extending laterally from said pocket to enable disengagement ofthe stop pin from said pocket and a guide groove extending forwardlyfrom said lateral passage and terminating in a stop at the forward endthereof, said second guide groove communicating at its rearward end withthe first guide groove to direct the stop pin on rearward movement ofthe operating member back into the first guide groove.

4. In an electric switch, the combination .with a movable switch elementand a pivat a point in rear of the first stop shoulder and extending atits rearward end back into the first guide groove to thereby carry thestop pin upon full reverse movement back into the first guide groove.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable switch element,and an operating handle therefor, of means for controlling the switchmovement, comprising a stop device carried by the handle and relativelystationary stop devices cooperating therewith, one of said devicesconsisting of a stop pin and the cooperating stop device consisting of aguide groove having'a drop at the forward end thereof providing a pocketfor the stop pin, a second guide groove at one side of said pocketterminating in a stop shoulder for the pin, said second guide groovebeing in communication with the pocket by a rearwardly extending guidepassage and being further connected at its rearward end with the firstguide passage to direct the pin on full reverse movement of the'switchhandle back into the first guide groove.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable switchelementrand an operating member therefor, of cooperating relativelystationary and movable stop devices comprising a stop pin, aguidepassage for said stop pin provided with a stop shoulder at the forwardend thereof, a second guide passage for the stop pin at one side of saidstop shoulder, a lateral passage for guiding the stop pin from the stopshoulder into engagement with thesecond guide passage and said secondguide passage communicating at its rearward end with the first guidepassage at a point in a rear of the stop shoulder to thereby direct Wardend of one of said grooves, an oscilthe stop pin in the retractivemovement lating member mounted in said annular 10 thereof back into thefirst guide passage. member and having a slot extending longi- 7. In acontrolling device, the combinatudinally and elongated radially, and a 5tion of a stationary annular member having spring pressed pin in saidslot having one two concentric grooves in the outer face end operable insaid grooves.

thereof of different radii and having overlapping portions, a stopshoulder in the for- KNUD KNUDSEN.

